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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jane Stockdale and Steven Bloor

Women’s FA Cup photo essay – road to Wembley, final: Chelsea v Manchester City

Pyrotechnics go off ahead of the teams’ entrance to the pitch ahead of the Vitality Women's FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium.
Pyrotechnics go off ahead of the teams’ entrance to the pitch. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian

Manchester City’s victory over West Ham in the semi-final meant that they were heading for Wembley for a fourth FA Cup final in the last six seasons. The match against Chelsea was a repeat of March’s League Cup final which City won 3-1. Whichever team triumphed would be winning a double, after Chelsea secured the Women’s Super League title last weekend. A victory for Emma Hayes’ side would also mean that following 2020-21’s Treble, Chelsea would have won five of the six domestic trophies on offer over the past two seasons. The two sides have developed a strong rivalry in recent years, with Chelsea’s dominance only punctured by City’s success in the cup competitions.

Young fans by a merchandise stall on Wembley Way.
Young fans by a merchandise stall on Wembley Way. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
A Chelsea fan pets a police horse along Wembley Way in the rain
A Chelsea fan pets a police horse along Wembley Way in the rain Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Young Chelsea fans down Wembley Way.
Young Chelsea fans down Wembley Way. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Chelsea scarves on sale
Chelsea scarves on sale Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
  • Fans, merchandise and a police horse on a rainy Wembley Way

Fans make their way up Wembley Way.
Fans make their way up Wembley Way. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
  • Presenter Joelah Noble interviews Kimberly Wyatt, who is a former Pussycat Doll and is taking part in the half-time show

Presenter Joelah Noble interviews Kimberly Wyatt who is a former Pussycat Doll and Vitality Ambassador Doll and is part of the half-time show.
Presenter Joelah Noble interviews Kimberly Wyatt who is a former Pussycat Doll and Vitality Ambassador Doll and is part of the half-time show. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Chelsea fans inside Wembley stadium.
Chelsea fans inside Wembley stadium. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Manchester City fans inside Wembley stadium.
Manchester City fans inside Wembley stadium. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
  • Wembley starts to fill up with Chelsea and Manchester City fans

Chelsea fans sing the national anthem
Chelsea fans sing the national anthem Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Manchester City players sing the national anthem
Manchester City players sing the national anthem Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
  • Fans and players sing the national anthem (above); City’s Georgia Stanway and Chelsea’s Sophie Ingle in action.

Georgia Stanway of Manchester City and Sophie Ingle of Chelsea in action.
Georgia Stanway of Manchester City and Sophie Ingle of Chelsea in action. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian

After a blistering start by City, with Caroline Weir going close on a couple of occasions, Chelsea steadied the ship and the game developed into a cagey one with both teams playing cautiously, desperate not to concede the first goal. Sam Kerr did breach the City defence in the 18th minute (below) when she raced through and finished with aplomb, but her effort was chalked off for offside.

Chelsea’s Sam Kerr scores but it is ruled out for offside.
Chelsea’s Sam Kerr scores but it is ruled out for offside. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Millie Bright puts over a cross which Sam Kerr heads home to open the scoring.
Millie Bright puts over a cross which Sam Kerr heads home to open the scoring. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Sam Kerr heads home to open the scoring.
Sam Kerr heads home to open the scoring. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian

Kerr found the net again 15 minutes later, when she headed home Millie Bright’s looping cross. This time the goal stood, and Chelsea had the lead.

Two Chelsea fans sitting in the Manchester City section celebrate after Kerr scores their first goal.
Two Chelsea fans sitting in the Manchester City section celebrate after Kerr scores their first goal. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Man City fans look worried after Chelsea score their first goal.
Man City fans look worried after Chelsea score their first goal. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
  • Differing emotions in the stands following Kerr’s goal, while her teammates celebrate (below).

Chelsea players celebrate with Millie Bright after her cross was headed in by Sam Kerr for the opening goal of the game.
Chelsea players celebrate with Millie Bright after her cross was headed in by Sam Kerr for the opening goal of the game. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian

Manchester City equalised just before half-time courtesy of a wonderful curling effort by Lauren Hemp, seen below surging past Chelsea defender Millie Bright.

Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp surges past Chelsea’s Millie Bright
Manchester City’s Lauren Hemp surges past Chelsea’s Millie Bright Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian

Chelsea’s lead was restored shortly after the hour mark when Erin Cuthbert’s piledriver of a shot from outside the area flew past Manchester City keeper Ellie Roeback, going in off the underside of the bar.

Chelsea fans celebrate after Erin Cuthbert stunning strike had put Chelsea 2-1 ahead.
Chelsea fans celebrate after Erin Cuthbert stunning strike had put Chelsea 2-1 ahead. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Manchester City’s Lucy Bronze causes problems for the Chelsea defence.
Manchester City’s Lucy Bronze causes problems for the Chelsea defence. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian

Manchester City stepped up the pressure in the search for an equaliser and in the 89th minute, Hayley Raso chested down a long ball, held off the challenge of Magdalena Eriksson and poked the ball home, sending raptures of delight through the City fans as the game went to extra time.

Manchester City fans celebrate when Hayley Raso scores an equaliser in the 89th minute.
Manchester City fans celebrate when Hayley Raso scores an equaliser in the 89th minute. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Lauren Hemp reacting during extra time
Lauren Hemp reacting during extra time Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian

City carried that momentum into the first half of extra-time and went close on a number of occasions – but the pendulum swings again in the 99th minute. City’s Alanna Kennedy misjudged a bouncing ball just inside the Chelsea half, which allowed Sam Kerr time and space to break forward. From just inside the City area, the Australian hits a shot that takes a big deflection off the stretching Alex Greenwood, wrong-footing Roebuck and putting Chelsea in front for a third time.

Sam Kerr scores her second, and Chelsea’s third goal.
Sam Kerr scores her second, and Chelsea’s third goal. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Sam Kerr scores her second, and Chelsea’s third goal.
Sam Kerr scores her second, and Chelsea’s third goal. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Chelsea players congratulate Sam Kerr.
Chelsea players congratulate Sam Kerr. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Manchester City’s Hayley Raso tussles with Chelsea’s Jonna Andersson
Manchester City’s Hayley Raso tussles with Chelsea’s Jonna Andersson Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian

City search in vain for another equaliser but time is against them, and the final whistle sparks scenes of joy among Chelsea players and fans.

Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger celebrates their victory
Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger celebrates their victory Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Chelsea fans from Sydney.
Chelsea fans from Sydney. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Chelsea and Fran Kirby fan.
Chelsea and Fran Kirby fan. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Cheslea and Millie Bright fan.
Cheslea and Millie Bright fan. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Chelsea and Sam Kerr fans.
Chelsea and Sam Kerr fans. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Chelsea celebrate with the Women’s FA Cup trophy
Chelsea celebrate with the Women’s FA Cup trophy Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Manchester City players look dejected
Manchester City players look dejected Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Manchester City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck and her teammates are dejected after losing the FA Cup final.
Manchester City goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck and her teammates are dejected after losing the FA Cup final. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian
Chelsea players celebrate with the trophy.
Chelsea players celebrate with the trophy. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian

The victory over City was Chelsea’s fourth FA Cup triumph, all of them under Hayes and it takes her trophy haul with the club up to 13. “That was so amazing for the women’s game today,” she said afterwards. “I love playing Manchester City – it is football of the highest level. Tactically both teams have their strengths. I thought we were really bold and for that reason, that’s why were on the winning team.’

Chelsea’s players celebrate their FA Cup triumph.
Chelsea’s players celebrate their FA Cup triumph. Photograph: Jane Stockdale/The Guardian

Click here to catch up on our series of picture essays on the road from Willenhall to Wembley

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